Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there’ll always be better writers than you and there’ll always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing that—but you are the only you.

Are you living the shadow life? Here is a simple test. Answer these two questions: What makes you feel most alive and improves the well being of others? Are you doing whatever that is on a regular basis? If you find it hard to answer the first question—or your answer...